Marc-Ale Augustin
Name:Marc-Ale Augustin
School: Spring Valley High School
Class: Senior
Sport: Football
Athletic accomplishments: Augustin anchors an offensive line that recorded more than 200 rushing yards in wins over Horace Greeley and Fox Lane. Augustin also had four quarterback pressures and six tackles as a defensive end.
Academic accomplishments: Augustin is currently ranked at the top of his class with a 98.76 unweighted average and has seven advanced-placement courses under his belt. Augustin said his top college choice is Ohio State University.
School and community involvement: Augustin is the treasurer and webmaster of the school’s Key Club, a volunteer teacher at Vacation Bible School, and a peer mentor for incoming freshmen at Spring Valley High School.
Getting to know Marc-Ale Augustin
The Journal News: Your brother, Edenis, was the Spring Valley valedictorian last year. What have your parents done that has contributed to your academic success?
Marc-Ale Augustin: They just kept on us. Ever since we were young, they were always making sure all of our homework was done, checking it as well every single night and making sure everything was done perfectly.
TJN: Was there anything in particular they did that you were against, initially, but found to be a benefit in the long run?
MAA: When we were younger, my dad used to have this notebook set up for the three of us — my brother, myself, and my sister. He would set up this notebook where we would do cursive writing or penmanship, and then we’d do multiplication, addition, division, subtraction — all these little math facts. It was like homework for us to do, even before we started school.
TJN: How old were you at that time?
MAA: Kindergarten starts around 5, maybe, so maybe he started us with the writing around 4 years of age.
TJN: What do you enjoy most about the game of football, on the field or off the field?
MAA: The brotherhood. There’s nothing else that can compare to that. The wins and losses are great and all, but there’s something about the brotherhood that you find in football. There’s a comfort, there’s a family atmosphere that football brings that’s not really found anywhere else.
TJN: When did you first realize that you were a part of something bigger than just a game?
MAA: My freshman year. I don’t think it was until after football season where I realized the influence they had on me. As a freshman, I’m looking up to these seniors, playing varsity football, and I started to realize that I started to talk the same way that they do, or act the same way they do, that the competitive spirit was kind of in me.
TJN: Do you know what you want you would want to study when you get to college?
MAA: Yes. Ever since freshman year, after getting injured, I went into the athletic trainer’s office and I just learned what they did. Ever since then, I said, “Oh, I’m gonna become an athletic trainer.” So, I plan on majoring in athletic training, possibly double-majoring in athletic training with biomedical engineering. The end goal is to go through medical school and become an orthopedic surgeon.
The Journal News Rockland Scholar-Athlete of the Week program honors students for their academic, athletic and community achievements. Each week a winner is selected from nominees submitted by athletic directors. Only seniors can be nominated, and the award can be won only once. Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. Monday. The presenting sponsor for The Journal News Rockland Scholar-Athlete program is Gary Goldberg Financial Services.
Mike Zacchio
Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud